Lothian Buses Volvo B7TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini and Lothian Buses Volvo B9TL/Wright Gemini 2
The Jewel in the Crown....
Lothian Buses is quite rightly regarded as the best of Scotland’s bus operators, running extensive and high quality services to all parts of the capital. It runs a very standardised fleet, mainly of Volvo’s such as B7TL 805 (SN56AFO) seen here followed by B9TL 364 (SN11EBP). At the time these B9TLs were delivered, Lothian had declared a bit of a fatwa on manufacturers badges and indeed Wrightbus went as far as to develop a plain front grill with no ‘w’ on it. On the back, the ‘w’ on the rear grill was replaced with a large Lothian fleet name. The buses also carried no Volvo badges. This is a odd trait that bus companies seem almost ashamed of their vehicles and take all badges off and it’s somewhat unique to the industry. I mean you don’t see Jaguar or BMW selling a car with no manufacturing logos or model names. Ford don’t take all the badges off its vans when they sell them to companies. Neither do lorry manufacturers - I mean even Land Rovers and lorries for the Army still have manufacturer’s badges. Yet bus manufacturers agree not to badge their vehicles, the classic example being Stagecoach.
However, the latest B9TLs acquired from London to modernise the fleet have the badging restored and look all the better for it.
Lothian Buses Volvo B7TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini and Lothian Buses Volvo B9TL/Wright Gemini 2
The Jewel in the Crown....
Lothian Buses is quite rightly regarded as the best of Scotland’s bus operators, running extensive and high quality services to all parts of the capital. It runs a very standardised fleet, mainly of Volvo’s such as B7TL 805 (SN56AFO) seen here followed by B9TL 364 (SN11EBP). At the time these B9TLs were delivered, Lothian had declared a bit of a fatwa on manufacturers badges and indeed Wrightbus went as far as to develop a plain front grill with no ‘w’ on it. On the back, the ‘w’ on the rear grill was replaced with a large Lothian fleet name. The buses also carried no Volvo badges. This is a odd trait that bus companies seem almost ashamed of their vehicles and take all badges off and it’s somewhat unique to the industry. I mean you don’t see Jaguar or BMW selling a car with no manufacturing logos or model names. Ford don’t take all the badges off its vans when they sell them to companies. Neither do lorry manufacturers - I mean even Land Rovers and lorries for the Army still have manufacturer’s badges. Yet bus manufacturers agree not to badge their vehicles, the classic example being Stagecoach.
However, the latest B9TLs acquired from London to modernise the fleet have the badging restored and look all the better for it.